Multiple valve control means



1966 E. L. STEVENS MULTIPLE VALVE CONTROL MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 22. 1963 TNVENTOR. EUQAR L- STEVENS BY &&.An. ge Arrozusv MULTIPLE VALVE CONTROL MEANS Filed Oct. 22, 1963 4 sheets -sheet 2 H 49 6 fi fiM?// r i --8 E's LP Fig URE 2.

INVENTOR. EDAR.L-STEVENS ATTORNE Y Aug. 16, 1966 E. L. STEVENS 3,266,523

MULTIPLE VALVE CONTROL MEANS Filed Oct. 22, 196: 4 Sheets-Sheet s Flquns 4 INVENTOR. 0 42 L-STVM 1966 E. L. STEVENS 3,266,523

' MULTIPLE VALVE CONTROL MEANS Filed Oct. 22, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 WK; M

fl b l E Mil INVENTOR. D$AR L- STVAB 31 1. noeusv Patented August 16, 1966 3,266,523 MULTIPLE VALVE CONTROL MEANS Edgar L. Stevens, 836 17th Ave, Vero Beach, Fla. Filed Oct. 22, 1963, Ser. No. 317,933 4 Claims. (Cl. 137-636.3)

This inventionrelates to valve actuating mechanism and whereby a .single lever is movable to various conditions to actuate multiple hydraulic valves.

The invention contemplates a casing that receives a manually controlled stem that is swingable to both right and left for actuating slide devices that are connected with hydraulic valves and with the stem having a fixed ball upon its upper portion for the engagement of the hand by the operator and with the stem being provided with an inner rod that is coupled with valve controlling cranks within the casing and whereby the inner rod upon axial rotation of the stem will control one valve device and, when the inner stem is depressed .and the inner rod depressed will actuate another valve device and, when the inner rod is further depressed, will actuate another valve device so that the device is capable of actuating five separate valves by a single lever.

Novel features of .construction and operation of the device will be more clearly apparent during the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein has been illustrated a preferred form of the invention and wherein like characters of reference are employed to denote like parts throughout the several figures.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, parts broken away illustrating the component elements of the device,

FIGURE 2 is a section taken substantially on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the device,

FIGURE 4 is a section taken substantially on line 44 of FIGURE 2,

- FIGURE 5 is a section taken on line 55 of FIG- URE 2,

FIGURE 6 is a section taken substantially on line 66 of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 7 is .a fragmentary section taken substantially on line 77 of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary section taken substantially on line 88 of FIGURE 2, and

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view looking in the direction of the arrows on line 99 of FIG- URE 1. i

Referring specifically to the drawings, there has been illustrated a box-like casing 5, having a top wall 6, a bottom wall 7 and side walls 8. Extend-ing through an opening 9 in the top wall 6 is a tubular operating arm 10. The arm 10 at its upper end is open and provided with a ball-like cap 11. The arm 10 extends downwardly into the housing 5 and is provided upon its lower side with a semi-spherical ball 12. The ball 12 has rotative engagement into a semi-spherical bearing .13. The bearing 13 is welded or otherwise connected to a rotatable bearing 14, that is disposed within an opening 15 of a horizontal partition 16.

The arm 10 is .adapted to be swung laterally upon the bearing 13 and functions to shift valve plates 17 and 18. The valve plates 17 and 18 have forked engagement over the arm 10 as indicated at 19 and 20. The plates 17 and I18 are guided in brackets 21 and 22. The plates 17 and 18 are connected to hydraulic valves 23 and 24, shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 3. and the plates 17 and 18 are connected through the valves by valve stems 25 and 26. One means of connection between the plates and the valves are indicated in FIGURE 3 although it will be apparent that other connecting means may be provided between the plates and the valves as may be found desirable.

Shiftable within the arm 10 is an axially arranged rod 27. The rod 27 is biased upwardly by a coil spring 28, bearing against a shoulder 29 fixed within the arm and a collar 30 that is fixed upon the rod. The rod 27 axially with respect to the bearing 19 is provided vvith a universal coupling 31 and the coupling 31 is coupled'to a rod extension 32, that extends through an aperture in the bottom of the bearing 13 and rotatably supported within the bearing 14. The rod extension 32, is held against rotation with respect to the bearing 14 in its upper position by a key 33, operating in a slot 34 of the bearing 14 and the key thus functioning to rotate the bearing '14 when the rods 27 and 32 are in their uppermost posit-ion.

The rod 27 adjacent its upper end is provided with a lateral pin 35 that extends through a key opening 36 formed in the tubular arm 10 and the pin 35 is provided with an operating button 37 and whereby the rods 27 and 32 may be forced downwardly against the tension of the spring 28. In the uppermost position of the rods 27 and 32, the pin engages a lock notch 38 whereby the rods 27 and 32 are locked to the arm 10. Thus, the arm '10 and the rods will rotate together.

With the arm 10 being rotatable in the bearing 13 and the rods 27 and 32 being rotatable therewith, the bearing 14 is likewise caused to rotate. The bearing 14 is provided with a lateral arm 39 having a right angle extension 40 that engages an eye 41 formed upon a valve extension 42 of a hydraulic valve 43. Thus, when the arm 10 is rotated, the valve 43 will be actuated to and from an operative position.

When the rods 27 and 32 are shifted downwardly by the button 37, the key 33 moves from the slot 34 to enter an enlarged bore 34 which permits the arm 10 to rotate in its bearing 13, while the bearing 14 is stationary. The arm 32 at its lower end is provided with a lateral right angle crank arm 44 having a downturned extension 45. The extension 45 is adapted to enter an eye 46 formed upon a valve rod 47 that functions to actuate a hydraulic valve 48, preferably of the rotative type. When the button 37 is moved to the bottom of the slot 36, the extension 45 extends an additional distance below the eye 46 and compresses a valve stem 49 of a hydraulic valve 50. Relief of pressure from the button 37 permits the rods 27 and 32 to move upwardly and to again engage the key 33 into the key slot 34, at which time the arm .10 and the bearing are locked together for normal operation of the valves 23, 24 and 43 caused by the rocking back and forth of the arm 10 and the axial rotation of the arm '10.

The several valves, 23, 24, 43, 48 and 50 are essentially double acting valves of any well known construction and the valves and the mechanism of this invention are applicable to numerous uses such for instance as earth working machinery, cranes or the like and function to operate all the essential hydraulic valves of such apparatus from a single arm and relatively small control box.

Operation 27 and 32 are axially disposed within the arm 10, the

rotation of the arm 10 will rotate the bearing 14 due to the interlocking engagement of the key 33, moving the crank arm 39 that is connected to the ring 41 of the valve stem 42. Since the valves are double acting, the rotation of the arm 10 will control the valve 43 in a back and forth motion from 'acentral out-oft position of the valve. When the valve 48 is to be actuated, the button 37 is shifted downwardly from the look notch 38, moving the rod 27 and the extension 32 downwardly to disengage the key 33 from its slot 34 and disposing the key within the bore 34. The arm 10 may then be again rotated axially also rotating the rods 27 and 32 and swinging the crank 44 in a horizontal plane and when the rod is shifted downwardly, the end portion 45 will enter the eye 46 of the valve rod 47, actuating the valve 48 to and from an actuating position in either direction. When the valve 50 is to be actuated, the pin and the button 35 and 37 will be shifted downwardly to the bottom of the opening 36, shifting the end 45 in a further downward movement to press against the head 49 of the valve 50. When the valves have been successively actuated, the .pin 35 is again shifted upwardly into the notch 38 and in such position, the rod 27 and the rod 32 are locked together with the bearing 14 by the key 33. The universal 31 permits the tilting action of the arm 10 with respect to the rod 27 and to also lock the parts together for a rotation of the arm 10 when the valve 43 is to be actuated. It will be apparent that from a single control arm 10, the several valves 26, 24, 46, 48 and 50 may be actuated alternatively in accordance with the particular mechanism to be controlled by hydraulic fluid.

It will be apparent from the foregoing, that -a very novel mechanism has been employed for controlling numerous hydraulic valves from a single control arm. Heretofore, the several valves have been actuated by independent control means but in this particular invention, the control housing may be conveniently mounted adjacent to the operator and the multiple actions of a machine, such as a crane or the like are easily controlled from a single point. The device is relatively simple in construction, is strong, durable and most effective as a means to actuate multiple hydraulic valves for controlling the movements of various machines, such as cranes and other earth working devices.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction shown, but that changes are contemplated as readily fall within the spirit of the invention as shall be determined by the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A structure of the character described for operating multiple hydraulic valves that comprises a housing that supports the several valves and with the housing having a centrally arranged partition, a tubular operating arm that extends through an aperture in a top wall of the housing, the arm projecting above the housing and provided upon its top with a ball, the arm at its lower end within the housing having a ball and socket joint and whereby the arm may be swung laterally to operate certain of the valves, a rotatable bearing journaled in the partition and that is connected to one-half of the ball and socket joint, a rod extending through the arm axially thereto and also extending through the rotatable bearing, means for locking the rod to the bearing, the said rod having an upper lateral extension that extends through an opening in the upper part of the arm and whereby the arm and the rod are jointly rotatable for rotating the bearing, valve operating means carried by the bearing, the said rod having an extension extendalble at a right angle below the bearing and being extensible for engaging a valve arm, the rod being biased upwardly by a spring, the said rod extension being further extensible downwardly for actuation of another valve device.

, 2. A valve operating means of the character described that comprises a housing having a transverse partition therein, a rotatable hearing within the partition, an operating arm that extends upwardly through a top of the housing and with the arm being cylindrical, the arm within the housing being journaled with a semi-spherical bearing of a hall and socket, the arm having a semispherical ball that engages within the socket, the socket being fixed to the rotatable bearing, the arm at its upper end being provided with a spherical ball for moving the arm, the arm above the top of the housing engaging slide devices when the arm is swung upon the ball, the slide devices being connected to valve rods that actuate hydraulic valves, the rotatable bearing being provided with an L-shaped arm that extends downwardly to engage through a valve actuating arm, a rod that extends through the arm and provided with a universal coupling axially with respect to the ball and socket bearing, the rod being biased upwardly by a spring, a lower section of the rod extending through an aperture in the rotatable bearing the rod being provided with a key and wit-h the key engaging a slot within the rotatable bearing and whereby to lock the rod and its lower extension with respect to the bearing and with the rod adjacent its upper end having a pin that projects outwardly from an aperture formed in the upper portion of the arm and whereby the rod and its lower extremity is locked with respect to the bearing and the arm, the said arm when rotated also rotating the rod for rotating the bearing and whereby the first named L-shaped arm will actuate a hydraulic valve, the said pin engaging in a lock slot of the aperture when the rod is biased upwardly by a spring, the said pin extending beyond the aperture and provided with an operating button, the said button adapted to be shifted downwardly for moving the rod downwardly through the ball and socket bearing to the first named bearing and for disengaging the key, the said arm being rotatable with the rod, the said rod at its lower end being provided with a laterally extending arm having a depending end portion and, when the rod is shifted downwardly against the tension of the spring, the depending portion will engage an opening of an arm of another hydraulic valve and whereby the rotation of the arm will also actuate the last named valve independent of the rotation of the first named hearing, the rod when further shifted downwardly being projected below the last named valve arm and to press upon and actuate another hydraulic valve.

3. A multiple valve operating mechanism of the character described that comprises a rectangular housing having a flat top and with the housing being provided with a transverse partition, a rotatable hearing within the partition, a semi-spherical bearing connected to the rotatable bearing, a tubular arm that extends through an opening in the top of the housing and with the arm having a semis'pherical ball that engages within the semi-spherical bearing and whereby the arm may be rocked at right angles to its axial center, slide devices that are positioned upon the top of the housing and with the slide devices having U-sha'ped ends that embrace the arm, the slide devices being disposed at right angles to each other, the slide devices being connected to hydraulic valves and whereby a swinging movement of the arm in opposite directions will actuate the slide devices and their connected valves, a rod within the arm and that is disposed axially thereof and with the rod having a ball and socket joint axially with respect to the semi-circular ball and bearing, a fixed partition within the arm and a disc fixed to the rod and with a compression spring disposed between the disc and the partition and whereby the rod is biased upwardly, the rod having a lower extension from the ball and socket joint that extends through an aperture in the first named bearing, the extension of the arm beneath the bearing being provided with a laterally extended arm having a depending end portion, the arm extension having a key that is disposed within a key way of the first named bearing when the rod is in an uppermost position and whereby the rod is rotatable with the arm and the first named bearing, the first named bearing having a laterally extending arm having a depending terminal portion that projects through an eye of a valve rod for actuating a third hydraulic valve, the said rod having a laterally extending pin and an operating button that extends through an opening in the upper portion of the arm, the opening of the (arm also having a notch formed therein whereby the rod and its pin are locked with respect to the arm, the said pin adapted to be pro jected downwardly when disengaged with the lock notch and whereby to shift the rod and the lock downwardly against the tension of the spring, the said rod when shifted downwardly disengaging the key with respect to the key slot and to permit rotation of the arm and the rod independent of the first named bearing, the said rod when projecting downwardly engaging an eye of a valve rod for actuating a fourth hydaulic valve through the rotation of the arm, the rod when further projected downwardly causing the extension to extend through the eye of the fourth valve rod to engage an actuating button carried upon a valve rod of a fifth hydraulic valve, the several valves being double acting and controllable by the arm for successively controlling mechanism that is hydraulically controlled.

4. The structure according to claim 3 wherein the slides are provided with guides upon the top of the housing, the slides extending beyond the housing and coupled to valve arms carried by hydraulic valves of the double acting type, the first named bearing being cylindrical and rotatable in guides carried by the partition, the first named semi-spherical bearing being fixed to the top of the first named bearing and rotatable therewith, the aperture of the first named bearing being axial with respect to the rod and the arm and with the arm being swingable within the semispherical bearing to shift the slides, the aperture in the arm being of generally hear-tshape and with the locking notch extending from the upper portion of the aperture whereby the rod may be moved upwardly by the spring to engage the notch, the pin when in the notch locking the rod and the arm together and engaging the key within the key way whereby the arm and the rod are locked together for joint rotation, the rod and the arm when locked together permitting the rotation of the arm upon the axial center and to simultaneously rotate the first named bearing for actuating the third hydraulic valve, the extension of the arm being below the bearing for permitting the free rotation to actuate the third valve without actuation of the fourth and fifth vavles, the pin when shifted downwardly against the spring into the aperture disengaging the rod from the first named bearing and to permit the rotation of the arm and the lower extension of the rod for actuating the fourth hydraulic valve, the pin when shifted downwardly to engage the bottom of the aperture, forcing the lateral extension of the rod downwardly to engage and actuate the fifth hydraulic valve.

References Cited by the Examiner WILLIAM F. ODEA, Primary Examiner.

C. GORDON, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A STRUCTURE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED FOR OPERATING MULTIPLE HYDRAULIC VALVES THAT COMPRISIES A HOUSING THAT SUPPORTS THE SEVERAL VALVES AND WITH THE HOUSING HAVING A CENTRALLY ARRANGED PARTITION, A TUBULAR OPERATING ARM THAT EXTENDS THROUGH AN APERTURE IN A TOP WALL OF THE HOUSING, THE ARM PROJECTING ABOVE THE HOUSING AND PROVIDED UPON ITS TOP WITH A BALL, THE ARM AT ITS LOWER END WITHIN THE HOUSING HAVING A BALL AND SOCKET JOINT AND WHEREBY THE ARM MAY BE SWUNG LATERALLY TO OPERATE CERTAIN OF THE VALVES, A ROTATABLE BEARING JOURNALED IN THE PARTITION AND THAT IS CONNECTED TO ONE-HALF OF THE BALL AND SOCKET JOINT, A ROD EXTENDING THROUGH THE ARM AXIALLY THERETO AND ALSO EXTENDING THROUGH THE ROTATABLE BEARING, MEANS FOR LOCKING THE ROD TO THE BEARING, THE SAID ROD HAVING AN UPPER LATERAL EXTENSION THAT EXTENDS THROUGH AN OPENING IN THE UPPER PART OF THE ARM AND WHEREBY THE ARM AND THE ROD ARE JOINTLY ROTATABLE FOR ROTATING THE BAEARING, VALVE OPERATING MEANS CARRIED BY THE BEARING, THE SAID ROD HAVING AN EXTENSION EXTENDABLE AT A RIGHT ANGLE BELOW THE BEARING AND BEING EXTENSIBLE FOR ENGAGING A VALVE ARM, THE ROD BEING BIASED UPWARDLY BY A SPRING, THE SAID ROD EXTENSION BEING FURTHER EXTENSIBLE DOWNWARDLY FOR ACTUATION OF ANOTHER VALVE DEVICE. 